“Resurrection of the Undead” [chapter 06]
As I journeyed northward, a sense of wonder enveloped me, drawing my attention to the vibrant flora of this alien planet. Each step revealed a new marvel, and I marveled at the towering trees that surrounded me. Back on Earth, I stood at a proud six feet, but here, I felt myself stretching closer to six and a half. Despite my newfound height, the vegetation loomed even larger, their immense trunks and sprawling branches reaching into the sky like ancient sentinels. What could be the reason behind such grandeur? I pondered as my gaze fell upon the fruits dangling from the branches, their colors a riotous display of hues, each one taking on an unusual shape that defied my earthly imagination. Yet, caution held me back from sampling these bizarre offerings; I knew better than to indulge without understanding their nature.
Ahead, a cavernous entrance loomed before me, the mouth of what appeared to be a dungeon. A flutter of nerves danced in my stomach, but I steeled myself. I had come this far, and I was determined to face whatever lay within. "Let's go!" I whispered to myself, summoning the courage to step into the darkness.
As I crossed the threshold, a shiver of trepidation slithered down my spine. The air was thick and damp, and the visibility was poor, yet something within me had changed. My senses felt heightened, sharper, as if I could perceive the slightest movements in the shadows. I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and declared with conviction, "I am the strongest here!" My voice echoed through the cavern, reverberating off the stone walls, a proclamation to the unseen.
I wandered deeper into the dungeon, my heart racing with both excitement and fear, until I stumbled upon a peculiar sight—a gelatinous creature, glistening in the dim light, crawling toward me. "What the hell is this?" I muttered, bewildered. "Is it some kind of dungeon monster?" The creature halted, seemingly alerted by my voice, and began to emit a series of strange noises.
"Okay, little buddy, I think I've startled you!" I chuckled awkwardly, trying to ease the tension. But my laughter was cut short as the creature formed a sludge-like bomb and hurled it in my direction. The projectile moved slowly, allowing me to sidestep just in time, watching in horror as it struck a nearby rock and caused it to evaporate, consumed by the toxic nature of the sludge. "Oh, shit! This is no joke. If one of those hits me, it's the end!"
With renewed caution, I dodged the next attack and closed the distance between us. Gathering my strength, I unleashed a powerful kick, connecting with the creature's gelatinous face. It flew backward, crashing against the wall, and I watched as it lay still, lifeless. A small, iridescent pearl oozed from its mouth, and I recalled reading in one of my books that slain dungeon creatures often left behind such treasures. Despite its slimy exterior, I picked it up and tucked it into my pocket.
Emboldened by my victory, I spent hours battling these peculiar monsters, which I had decided to name "Glooms" for their slow movements and eerie glow. After dispatching what felt like a hundred of them, I felt a surge of energy course through me, and a notification appeared before my eyes:
**NAME:** RED
**STATUS:** HYBRID
**LEVEL:** 10
**SKILL:** CHOOSE [OPTION UNLOCKED]
**ADDITIONAL SKILL:** MARTIAL ART [LV 6]
**SKILLS TO CHOOSE:**
- DIVINE: GLADIATOR, SWORD KING, HIGH PRIEST, ULTIMATE WARRIOR.
- HUMAN: MAGICIAN, HEALER, COOK, INVENTOR.
- RESTRICTED: UNDEAD [rare]
A thrill coursed through me as I absorbed the possibilities. So many skills to choose from! My desire to grow stronger and level up quickly bubbled to the surface. I pondered my options carefully, weighing each one. Ultimately, I found myself torn between the allure of the Ultimate Warrior and the rare Undead skill. The latter intrigued me; it sounded dark and unholy, a stark contrast to the divine path. But I was drawn to its rarity, and I craved something unique.
**CONFIRM SKILL UNDEAD: YES OR NO**
"Yes!" I declared, my heart racing with anticipation.
**NAME:** RED
**STATUS:** HYBRID
**LEVEL:** 10
**SKILL:** UNDEAD [LEVEL 01]
**ADDITIONAL SKILL:** MARTIAL ART [LV 6]
**INFO: The Undead skill allows the wielder to resurrect five deceased beings as their servants. Additionally, the wielder can absorb the skills of these undead entities. However, there is a significant chance that this ability will fail against beings of higher levels than the wielder.
A grin spread across my face as I reveled in the power of my new skill. This was perfect for me! Eager to test my newfound abilities, I sprinted toward the lifeless Glooms I had slain moments ago. Standing over their fallen forms, I closed my eyes, focusing on the energy within me. A single word echoed in my mind, and I shouted it with all my might.
"Resurrect!"
As the words slipped from my lips, an extraordinary transformation began. The lifeless form before me shimmered, a ghostly luminescence enveloping it. In a heartbeat, a radiant circle emerged beneath the body, greedily consuming the surrounding gloom.
The once-ominous darkness receded, until at last, a brilliant light erupted from within the circle. Yet, from this brilliance, a strange, patterned shadow materialized—an enigmatic gloom, adorned with curious designs that seemed to dance in the light.
Then, just as abruptly as it had appeared, the circle vanished, leaving the weirdly patterned gloom close at hand. To my astonishment, it approached me gently and began to nuzzle against my leg, as if it were a playful puppy. Though it uttered no sound, I could feel an undeniable warmth radiating from its presence—a surge of joy that washed over me, filling the air with an inexplicable sense of wonder and connection.